Diane White, PhD, is the Founding Dean of the Antioch Graduate School of Nursing and Health Professions.
White holds a lifelong belief in access to high-quality healthcare education and a deep commitment to healthcare for all. As a nurse by training, a lifelong educator, and a practitioner, she is committed to re-imagining healthcare in the United States, transforming it into a system that works for all. She believes in preparing graduates to transform healthcare and play a pivotal role in advocating for health equity and access for all humanity.
Before beginning her academic career, White was a full-time nurse at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta in the surgical intensive care unit, where she cared for and about under-resourced individuals, families, and communities. Her mentor encouraged her to pursue an academic career, and she soon realized the impact she could make by helping more future nurses understand the social impacts that are affecting healthcare so that they, too, could care about their patients.
Before joining Antioch, White was most recently the Founding Dean of the School of Health Sciences at Georgia Gwinnett College, and her prior experience includes professor, department chair, and dean. She has a record of success in securing funds, creating programs, and building productive teams.
Among her many accomplishments, White founded the School of Health Sciences based on a culture of care, developed the first total prelicensure conceptual curriculum in Georgia, demonstrated expertise in experiential learning modalities, and engaged in remote and applied learning. She has designed simulation and clinical practice laboratories, led accreditation efforts, developed Health Science degrees, and collaborated with external partners.
White has a doctorate degree in nursing from Georgia State University and holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing as well. Her most recent publications and presentations focus on areas such as emotional intelligence in nursing, creating a culture of care in nursing education, and fostering DEI in the nursing curriculum.
